Akron Catastrophic Injury Lawyer

A catastrophic injury can upend an accident victim’s life in a split second. These long-lasting or permanent injuries may require ongoing treatment, leave victims unable to work, and keep them from enjoying their favorite activities. The medical expenses from a catastrophic injury could also cause significant financial stress during an already overwhelming time. If you are facing a situation like this, a catastrophic injury attorney is a valuable ally while you pursue compensation and accountability.

The Akron catastrophic injury lawyers at Amourgis & Associates, Attorneys at Law can help you pursue the compensation you need from the person who hurt you. Our attorneys have decades of experience and can take care of all the legal work in your case, giving you the time and space you need to focus on your treatment and recovery. We have offices throughout Ohio and can meet you wherever and whenever works best for you.

Contact us today for a free case review with an Akron personal injury lawyer.

What Is Considered a Catastrophic Injury?

Attorneys and medical experts sometimes disagree on what makes an injury catastrophic. The broadly accepted definition is that a catastrophic injury causes significant, long-term harm. An injury does not necessarily have to be permanent to be catastrophic — but it must cause long-term effects. Catastrophic injuries are often more expensive to treat because their effects are wide-ranging and often need long-term care.

Examples of Catastrophic Injuries

Many different types of injuries can be considered catastrophic. A few common examples of catastrophic injuries our lawyers see in Akron include:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)— Any brain injury can have profound, even permanent consequences. These effects could include changes in cognition, personality, and memory. Physical effects of a TBI could include partial or complete paralysis, problems with movement and coordination, loss of bladder and bowel control, loss of sight or hearing, and other medical conditions. Sadly, the effects of a traumatic brain injury are often permanent.
• Neck and spinal cord injuries— A herniated disc in the back or neck can cause extreme pain, especially when moving. Broken vertebrae in the back or neck can cause nerve damage, weakness, numbness, and paralysis.
• Internal organ injuries— Injuries to internal organs can cause internal bleeding and permanently affect the organ’s ability to function properly. These injuries can be particularly devastating when they damage the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, or other organs.
• Loss of limb— The complete or partial loss of an arm, leg, hand, or foot can cost you the ability to work and prevent you from caring for yourself or engaging in everyday activities. While prosthetic limbs can help, people who have lost all or part of a limb often struggle to return to their full, pre-accident way of life.
• Scarring and disfigurement— Severe burns, deep lacerations, and other disfiguring injuries are not only painful but can also cause significant psychological distress. Anyone whose appearance plays a central role in their job is especially likely to suffer emotional distress and financial consequences after a disfiguring injury.
• Severe burns— Burns can damage skin, muscle tissues, bones, and nerves. They can also lead to infections that jeopardize the healing process. In many cases, burn injuries leave significant scars that require skin grafts to repair, causing patients deep emotional distress.
• Loss of sight or hearing— Being unable to see or hear can prevent you from finding a job and participating in your favorite activities. In addition to hampering your quality of life, losing your sight or hearing could also significantly affect your finances.
• Bone fractures— Many broken bones heal relatively quickly with no long-term complications. However, more severe fractures that do not heal correctly or never fully fuse can cause significant pain, impede your ability to move, and lead to permanent physical impairments.
• Mental health disorders— Catastrophic injuries can have profound mental as well as physical effects. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions can cause deep emotional distress long after you have physically healed from an accident.

Most Common Causes of Catastrophic Injuries

Some of the most common causes of the catastrophic injury cases we handle in Akron include:

• Car accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Semi-truck accidents
• Bicycle accidents
• Pedestrian accidents
• Slip-and-fall accidents
• Medical malpractice
• Defective products
• Shootings, stabbings, and other physical assaults

What to Do After Suffering a Catastrophic Injury

Here are a few things you can do to protect your rights after suffering a catastrophic injury in an accident:

• See a doctor — Seek medical treatment immediately. Waiting too long to see a doctor could worsen your injuries and hurt your efforts to recover compensation.
• Gather evidence — Save any photos or other evidence you have from the accident scene. This evidence could be crucial in showing how another party caused your injuries. Keep copies of your medical records and any receipts related to the accident as well. These documents can help establish the extent of your injuries and how much the accident has cost you financially.
• Avoid posting on social media — Do not make any posts on social media. No matter what your privacy settings are, insurance companies and their investigators can find your social media posts and use them against you. The best thing you can do to protect yourself is to avoid giving an insurer anything to use against you.
• Contact an Akron catastrophic injury lawyer — Do not speak to any insurance companies before talking to an Akron personal injury lawyer. If you say the wrong thing to an insurer, you could jeopardize your case and lose the money you need to provide for yourself.

Damages You Can Recover in a Catastrophic Injury Case

Because catastrophic injuries cause long-term harm, they lead to significant physical, financial, and emotional costs — costs for which you deserve compensation. This compensation could include money for your:

• Medical expenses, including the cost of future care
• Physical pain
• Emotional distress
• Lower quality of life
• Lost wages
• Reduced future earnings
• Damaged personal property
• PTSD

Talk to an Experienced Catastrophic Injury Lawyer in Akron, OH Today

The Ohio catastrophic injury attorneys at Amourgis & Associates, Attorneys at Law are ready to fight for your rights and help you pursue the money you need. You do not owe us any fees unless you collect compensation for your injuries. Contact us online for a free consultation with one of our Akron personal injury lawyers.